Shipping Personal Firearms from California to Virginia

[tc617]

A few quick questions for a co-worker.

A co-worker whose military enlistment ended in California and left his firearms (hunting rifle and semi-auto handgun) stored in a family member's safe. He now resides in Virginia and wants those firearms shipped to his residence. Does he need to go through an FFL or can he have them shipped directly to his home?

I believe he can have them shipped without the assistance of an FFL but I am not 100% sure so I am asking here.

What shipping company (UPS or Fed-Ex) is most preferred and do they need to be shipped overnight?

Thank you.

 

[5.56blaster]

I would call someone that does this for a living for guidance.

 

[jimbobborg]

The problem isn't on the Virginia side, it's on the California side.

 

[kalister1]

Federal law allows you to ship the gun to where you are going to be. I don't know if someone else can ship you your gun or not?
State law is a ?

 

[swinokur]

Unfortunately both Fed Ex and UPS require one end of a shipment to involve an FFL. You can ship the handgun to an FFL in VA but call and get their ok first.

No USPS for handguns. The long gun can be shipped USPS to the residence of the legal owner.. check CA laws as well.

You could also check with a CA FFL and see if they will ship the handgun for you USPS. But some won't.

good luck

 

[tc617]

Thanks for the responses. He is going to check with a VA FFL (Big Dogs) after work today. I think the only snag to having it shipped straight to his home is going to be the California side of the law.

 

[Hansohn Brothers]

No shipping directly to his home in Virginia unless he ships them himself to himself.

 

[swinokur]

That's why I said needs to go to a VA FFL He's already in VA and someone else is shipping the firearms as I understand his post.

 

[Hansohn Brothers]

That's why I said needs to go to a VA FFL He's already in VA and someone else is shipping the firearms as I understand his post.

Agreed.

 

[tc617]

No shipping directly to his home in Virginia unless he ships them himself to himself.

Yep, that's what the VA FFL said yesterday; A family member in California can ship his guns to a Virginia FFL and he can pick them up there. Probably all the better since now he can pick them up from the gun shop at his leisure.

Thanks all who responded. Much appreciated!

 

[jimbobborg]

BTW, if he's in NOVA, get them sent to Quantico Tactical. Lowest cost on transfers, and they probably have mags in stock if he wants more, standard capacity magazines.

 

[swinokur]

It may not need to be put in the bound book if he can arrange to pick up ther gun the day it arrives. And perhaps the FFL will cut him some slack on the fee since it technically isn't a transfer, but just a mail receipt.

 

[Hansohn Brothers]

It may not need to be put in the bound book if he can arrange to pick up ther gun the day it arrives. And perhaps the FFL will cut him some slack on the fee since it technically isn't a transfer, but just a mail receipt.

It's definitely a transfer, must be entered in bound book and 4473 completed with background check. No legal way around it I'm afraid.

 

[swinokur]

I was under the impression of the firearm was in your (FFL) possession for less than a day, no entry in your bound book was required. Is this wrong?

There is no change in ownership. Not arguing, just trying to learn the law.

 

[Hansohn Brothers]

I was under the impression of the firearm was in your (FFL) possession for less than a day, no entry in your bound book was required. Is this wrong?

There is no change in ownership. Not arguing, just trying to learn the law.

No argument from me.

The laws can be confusing and Brady '94 made it even more so. The "less-than-a-day" rule is for gunsmithing. A few examples:

A customer comes in for sights installed, 10 minutes later I hand him his firearm; no 4473, no background and no entry in my book.

A customer comes in for sights installed, 10 days later the customer comes back for his firearm. No 4473, no background but there is an entry in my book since I had the firearm overnight.

Now, if someone else comes in to pick-up the firearm, other than the original customer, then a 4473, background and a bound book entry come in.

In the OP, the firearms will be sent by someone other than whom will be picking them up. Therein lies the issue.

Since we're discussing 4473s, bound books and such, may as well touch on consignments. If a gun is consigned, a bound book entry is required. If the original owner wants his firearm back, 4473 and background check are required.

Sorry to the OP for the thread tangent.

 

[swinokur]

So what if the owner sends a copy of his drivers license to the shipper who puts that copy in with the firearm for ID purposes.

Legal? still has to be transferred in your book?

 

[newmuzzleloader]

No argument from me.

The laws can be confusing and Brady '94 made it even more so. The "less-than-a-day" rule is for gunsmithing. A few examples:

A customer comes in for sights installed, 10 minutes later I hand him his firearm; no 4473, no background and no entry in my book.

A customer comes in for sights installed, 10 days later the customer comes back for his firearm. No 4473, no background but there is an entry in my book since I had the firearm overnight.

Now, if someone else comes in to pick-up the firearm, other than the original customer, then a 4473, background and a bound book entry come in.

In the OP, the firearms will be sent by someone other than whom will be picking them up. Therein lies the issue.

Since we're discussing 4473s, bound books and such, may as well touch on consignments. If a gun is consigned, a bound book entry is required. If the original owner wants his firearm back, 4473 and background check are required.

Sorry to the OP for the thread tangent.

Good information. So the moral of the story is bring your guns when you move.

 

[Hansohn Brothers]

So what if the owner sends a copy of his drivers license to the shipper who puts that copy in with the firearm for ID purposes.

Legal? still has to be transferred in your book?

Still needs to be logged and 4473.

 

[Hansohn Brothers]

Good information. So the moral of the story is bring your guns when you move.

Or ship them to yourself before you move.

 

[swinokur]

Both UPS and FED Ex policy states that one end of any shipment must involve an FFL. Kinda hard to ship to yourself if you don't have at least an 03 FFL. BATFE says it's ok, but Fed Ex and UPS no longer allow it.

now what?